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ACLU seeks DOJ investigation into use of facial recognition

The American Civil Liberties Union wants the Department of Justice to investigate the use and impact of facial recognition technology over concerns it is violating the rights of millions of Americans and disproportionately affecting communities of color.

The American Civil Liberties Union wants the Department of Justice to investigate the use and impact of facial recognition technology over concerns it is violating the rights of millions of Americans and disproportionately affecting communities of color.

Updated: 5:53 PM EDT Oct 18, 2016

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ACLU seeks DOJ investigation into use of facial recognition

The American Civil Liberties Union wants the Department of Justice to investigate the use and impact of facial recognition technology over concerns it is violating the rights of millions of Americans and disproportionately affecting communities of color.

WEBVTT INVOLVES YOUR PICTURE TOO. THE IDEA OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY IS TO TAKE IMAGES LIKE THESE, OF SUSPECTED BANK ROBBERS, AND COMPARE THEM WITH PICTURES KEPT IN A BIG STATE DATABASE, THAT INCLUDES MOST PEOPLE IN MARYLAND. >> THE DATABASE IS POPULATED, I THINK MANY PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED TO HEAR, BY OVER 7 MILLION DRIVERS LICENSE PHOTOS. SO EVERY TIME YOU GO TO GET A DRIVERS LICENSE, YOU ARE NOW SUBMITTING TO BEING A PARTICIPANT IN A VIRTUAL LINEUP. JAYNE: A NEW STUDY BY THE CENTER ON PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGY AT GEORGETOWN LAW SCHOOL FINDS THE USE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY BY POLICE IS LARGELY UNREGULATED, WITH GLARING LACK OF ACCOUNTABILIT EXAMPLE -- THE BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH USES THE TECHNOLOGY. IT TOLD RESEARCHERS A POLICE OFFICER WITH A VALID USER ID AND PASSWORD CAN ACCESS THE DASHBOARD, SCAN IN THE PHOTO OF AN UNKNOWN OFFENDER AND SUBMIT THAT PHOTO FOR COMPARISON THE -- THAT PHOTO FOR COMPARISON. THE BPD DOES NOT KEEP RECORDS OF USE OF OFFICERS ACCESSING THIS TECHNOLOGY. SIMILARLY, MARYLAND STATE POLI TOLD US IT DOESN'T KEEP TRACK OF WHEN TROOPERS ACCESS THE SYSTE OR HOW OFTEN IT DELIVERS A HIT. THE ACLU WANTS THE JUSTI DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE TH GROWING USE OF SUCH TECHNOLOGY CLAIMING IT MAY UNFAIRLY IMPACT , MINORITIES. >> NOT ONLY DO WE KNOT KNOW HO -- NOT KNOW HOW FREQUENTLY IT IS HELPFUL IN FINDING AN OFFENDER, HOW OFTEN THEY GET A MATCH AND IT QUICKLY IDENTIFY A PERSON WHO COMMITTED AN OFFENSE, WE ALSO DON'T KNOW THE ERROR RATE, HOW MANY FALSE MATCHES AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE FALSELY ACCUSED OR WRONGLY INVESTIGATED BECAUSE OF INCORRECT MATCHES. JAYNE: STATE OFFICIALS SAY POLICE DO NOT NEED PROBABLE CAUSE TO ACCESS IT. LAST WEEK THEY SAY THE SYSTEM WAS USED 177 TIMES, BUT THEY CAN'T SAY WHICH OFFICES THE ALL